Suffolk County Signs Bills Into Law Aimed At Helping Homeless Veterans

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Homeless veterans in Suffolk County will be getting the support they need to find a place to live.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone signed bills within the Housing Our Homeless Heroes Act into law Monday, providing returning military veterans with access to housing and home assistance.

"One will allow us to take surplus properties and transfer them over to nonprofit organizations so they can rehabilitate it and provide housing for homeless veterans and we also amended our human rights law to make it very clear that housing discrimination against veterans cannot and will not be tolerated," Bellone explained.

There are an estimated 750 homeless veterans on Long Island.

"When a soldier goes off to protect the ground that we stand on it is unacceptable that he or she should have to come home to sleep on it," said bill sponsor Legislator Steven Stern.

"When they come home we should have no hesitation to provide the support and services that they require," said Tom Murnane, head of the county's Veterans Services.

Bellone said Suffolk County's goal is to end veteran homelessness.

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